Product empty mechanism



Nov. 24, 1959 c. E. REBURN 2,914,631

PRODUCT EMPTY MECHANISM Filed Nov. 20, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet. 1

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Filed Nov. 20, 1957 d w G W/. 2 U w m ww ww .G W 5% M E [Mm wwwm w w 0 g 0 w 0 M7,; 5 M 9 M C/UN United States Patent PRODUCT EMPTY MECHANISM Charles E. Reburn, Muncie, Ind., assignor to Glascock Brothers Manufacturing Company, Muncie, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application November 20, 1957, Serial No. 697,680

4 Claims. (Cl. 200-84) This invention relates to beverage dispensing and vend- .ing. apparatus and more particularly to a product empty mechanism or switch for such apparatus for indicating to potential users that the supply of product within the apparatus. is exhausted and-the apparatus is empty.

1 It has become common to vend beverages in automatic dispensing machines'which are adapted to dispense a quantity of pre-mixed beverage from tanks or containers carried within the machine into a cup which is positioned by the machine so as to be removable when full by the customer. The machines are actuated by the customer inserting a coin or coins into a slot provided in the machine, and it has been customary to provide the machines with product empty mechanisms which, when the machines are no longer able to deliver the desired beverage, are arranged to cause. thereturn of any coins thereafter deposited in the machine and to light a sign indicating that the machine is empty. Such mechanisms have proven unsatisfactory for various reasons, including unreliability .of operation, the possibility of causing leaks in the system and relatively high cost ofmanufacture.

It is therefore a general object of my invention to pro- .vide an improved, more efficient product empty mechanism for beverage'dispensing apparatus. Another object of my invention-is to provide aproduct empty mechanism or switch for a beverage dispensing apparatus, -which is economical to manufacture, easy to incorporate in the system, positive and foolproof in operation and re- 1; sponsive' to the liquid within the product system. iFurtherobjects of my invention'include-the provision of a'product empty mechanism for a beverage dispensing apparatus which is operated by liquid product within vthe syste'rmwhich has electrical circuits that are made an'dbroken by direct switching action of external switches; iwhichrequires no electrodes, transformers, or relays; whichzhas .nomoving parts extending through the walls .definingthe liquid product system; and which is automa'ticallyreset for operation when liquid product is again introduced intoethe system. 7

.IlOther advantages and'objects of my invention will be- 5, come apparent from the following description of a preferred form thereof, reference being had to the drawings -inwhich:

: wl.Figure 1 is a schematic view of a beverage dispensing zaapparatusiincluding an elevation, on an enlarged scale, of a product'empty mechanism embodying a preferred form .of my invention; Y

Figure: 2 is'a vertical section of the product empty 1' mechanism shown in :Figure -1 showing the position of the amthereof when liquid product is in the system; and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showing the position of the parts of the mechanism when the liquid prod- .ilct'isexhausted so thatthe system canno longer deliver :fia drink to acustomer. I vBriefly, my invention provides a product empty mechi anism that responds to .the' exhaustion of liquid product from the system by actuatin g'circuits which illuminate. a

sign announcing that the machine is empty and cause 2,914,631 Patented ,Nov. 24, 1959 the coin mechanism to reject any coins deposited in the apparatus and responds to the introduction of liquid product .into the system by actuating the same circuits to cause the coin mechanism to accept proper coins deposited in the machine and to turn off the sign.

The mechanism for accomplishing these results comprises a switch and a switch operating lever carrying a magnet outside of the liquid product system, and a float within the system carrying an armature of magnetic material. When liquid is present within the system, the float holds the armature remote from the external magnet and lever, so that the switch is .in a first position to permit the machine to accept coins and therefore to dispense beverage; when the product is exhausted, the float drops to permit the armature to move to a position where it coacts with the magnet to operate the lever and thereby the switch to cause the machine to reject coins and to illuminate the product empty sign.

A beverage dispensing apparatus embodying a product empty mechanism made according to my invention is shown schematically in Figure 1 and comprises a fluid product or beverage system indicated generally at 1 and a refrigerating system indicated generally at 2. The fluid product system includes a cylinder of liquified carbon dioxide 4 which functions to maintain carbonation of beverage and as a propellant to force the product through the liquid product system 1 and out of the solenoidoperated dispensing valve or faucet 5. The carbon dioxide cylinder 4 is connected by means of a conduit 6 to the first of a series of containers 7 containing liquid product; the containers 7 are interconnected by conduits 8; a conduit 9 leads from the last of the series of containers 7 to the'faucet 5 via, inter alia, a heat exchanger indicated at 12 wherein the product is cooled to the desired delivery temperature. The product is delivered into a cup 14 which is properly positioned by conventional cup .through the heat exchanger 12 where it effects the cooling of the product. A conventional coin mechanism, indicated at 22, and a product-empty light or sign 23 are also provided. When a proper coin is deposited, the coin mechanism actuates a control 24 which controls the cup mechanism 15 and the faucet 5 so that a cup is placed in proper position beneath the faucet, and then the faucet is opened for the time required to deliver a measured quantity of the beverage to the cup; then the faucet is closed and the mechanism resets itself for another cycle of operation. The above mechanisms may be of any conventional or suitable type and per se do not form a part of my invention but are environmental thereto. A suitable beverage cooling system is disclosed in US. Patent No..2,7,52,763, issued July 3, 1956, and appropriate electrical and hydraulic circuits are shown in greater detail in the co-pending US. patent application of Eddy and Yingst, Serial No. 562,844, filed February 1, 1956.

As noted above'in order to prevent the machine from accepting coins when the product has been exhausted, I

' have provided an improved product empty mechanism,

; floatchamber 27,-. which has a vertical axisand is divided into an upper dome-shaped portion 28 and a lower elongated spindle portion fail-extending downwardly from the dome-shaped portion. An inlet port 31 is provided in the lower end of spindle portion 39 and a threaded nipple 33 is provided to make a connection between the mechanism 25 and the conduit 9 of .the fluid product sytser n. An outlet port 34 is provided for the upper or dome-shaped portion 28 of the chamber 27 preferablyadjacentihe lowermost part thereof. As shown, the outlet 34 leads to a solenoid valve indicated generally at 35, albeit the valve .35 may be omitted if not required inthe fluid system, or provided separately if desired rather than as a part of the product emptymechanism. A threaded nipple 36 is provided for connecting the outlet with the conduit 9 of the fluid product system. A bracket 37 may .be provided for mounting the mechanism within the .beverage dispensing apparatus.

Chamber '27 is defined by ahousing indicated generally at 38 conveniently formed ofupper and lower parts 39 and 40 respectively secured together by suitable fastening means such as screws41, with an O-ring seal 42 between the parts.

In order to sense the presence of fluid product within the system, a float 43 is disposed within the chamber 27. Float 43 comprises an upper bulbous portion 44 and a lower piston or spindle portions 45 which is adapted to extend downwardly within the spindle portion 30 of chamber 27. In order to provide for the coaction of the float, i.e., the portion of the mechanism 25 within the fluid product system, with the portion of mechanism 25 without the fluid product system, I provide an armature 47 preferably at the lowermost end of portion .45. The

armature 47 is made from a magnetic material such as ported on the float chamber housing 38 and operating lever 50 is supported within the switch housing on a horizontal pivot 54 so that the arm 51 can swing toward and away from the float housing portion .40.

Switch 43 has an operating button 56 which is adapted to be engaged by the other arm 57 of lever 50. Suitable wires, indicated at 59, see also Figure 1, interconnect the switch 43 with coin mechanism 22 and light 23, the arrangement of the circuits being such that whenthe button 56 is extended, its normal position, the mechanism 22 will accept coins and the light 23 is out, but when the switch button is depressed, the coin mechanism is actuated to reject coinsand the light 23 is lit. I preferably also provide a light compression spring 60, acting between lever arm 51 and switch 48 andadapted to urge the lever 55 in a clockwise direction, as viewed, about the pivot 54 to the end that the'lever arm 57 is always held against the actuating button 56 of the switch and the lever arm 51 is close to, but not touching, the lower housing portion 40. In this normal condition, with the float raised by the presenceor" product in the system as shown in Figure 2, the coin mechanism 22 accepts coins and light 23 is out. The force exerted by spring 60 is insufficient to operate actuating button 56 of the switch. Rotation of lever 50 about pivot 54 in aclockwise direction with a force suflicient to counteract the operating force of switch button 56 depresses button56 and actuates the sold out functions of the machine. This result is accomplished when the chamber 27 does not contain sufi'icient liquid to support the float.43.by a mag- .net 62 mounted on lever arm 51 so as tobe adjacent but spaced from the lower part .40 of housing 38 when switch button 56 and lever 50 are in .theirnormal position. The magnet preferably has an arcuate shape which is complementary to the external shape of housing part 40. Magnet 62 is spaced from housing part 40 sufiiciently so that when the magnet moves toward the housing, the motion of lever arm 57 is sulficient to depress button 56 and actuate switch 43. Magnet 62 has sufficient strength that when the float 43 is in its lowermost position as shown in Figure 3, and the armature 47 is disposed opposite the magnet the attraction between the magnet and the armature is suflicient to displace the lever 50 clockwise with a force suflicient to depress operating button 56. I

It is essential to the operation of my improved product empty mechanism that only the float, and not the float chamber housing, influence the movement of magnet 62 and lever 50. Accordingly the lower portion 40 of housing 38 is made of non-magnetic material, at least adjacent magnet 62 and within the effective magnetic field thereof. The upper portion 39 of housing 38 is preferably made of clear plastic so as to permit observation of the liquid level within the float chamber.

When there is liquid in the liquid product system, float 43 is sustained in the raised position in chamber 27 shown in Figure 2; the armature 47 is disposed within the float chamber in a raised position so as to be outside the effective range magnet 62, and the lever 50 and switch button 56 are in their normal or at rest position as shown. When the product is exhausted however, float 43 settles to the lower position shown in Figure 3 with shoulder 65 of the float seating on interior shoulder .66 of float chamber housing 38. In this position armature 47 is disposed adjacent magnet 62 and the magnet is attracted thereto thereby causing a clockwise motion of lever 50 so as to depress switch button 56. As noted above this operates circuits to actuate the coin mechanism to reject coins, to light the product-empty light 23, and to accomplish any other sold out functions that may be desired.

Once product is again supplied to the system as by replacing the empty containers 7 with full ones, the liquid product flows through the inlet 31 into chamber 27, thereby displacing float 43 upwardly and moving armature 47 away from magnet 62. This releases the force urging lever 50 to rotate in a clockwise direction and as a consequence the lever 50 and button 56 return to their normal positions and the electric circuits are changed to normal to permit the coin mechanism 22 to again accept coins and to turn out light 23.

Because magnet 62 must be relatively strong in order to actuate the button 56 of the switch, a relatively large force must be exerted by float 43 in order to initiate upward movement thereof and move armature 47 away from the magnet. In order to obtain the required lifting force without providing an unduly large and cumbersome float and float chamber, I provide means by which the initial flow of liquid product into the float chamber that takes place when product is again supplied to the system is utilized to supply a lifting force to the float. To accomplish this, the piston portion 45 of the float 43 fits rather closely within the lower or inlet portion 40 of float chamber housing 38 as shown, so that liquid vflowing into the housing exerts an upward force on the 'float that immediately moves the armature away from the magnet. shown in Figure 2, the liquid can flow through the center of the ring shaped armature and through the slots 67 When the float reaches the upper position in the piston portion 45 to the outlet 34. Thus when .liquid product is first admitted through inlet 31 with float 43 in its lowermost position, Figure 3, there is a Ft'orn the foregoing description of a preferred form of mytnechanism, it will be evident that I have provided asimple an lsubstantially foolproof product empty mechanism which i positive and direct in its operation. A fsoldg-out indication is given as soon as there is no liquid in the float chamber; and ;as soon as product is again supplied to the float chamber, the normal circuits are immediately re-established. The magnet provides ample force, to actuate one or two or more switches which, if desired, can be utilized to control the external circuits directly without the interposition of any transformers or relayst' There are no electrodes, in the hydraulic system and,- -thus, no stray electrical currents in the hydraulic system inasmuch as" the liquid has nothing to do with the electrical circuits. There are no moving parts that pass through walls of the hydraulic system. Hence, the device does not introduce any substantial hazard of leakage or contamination of the beverage. The device is automatically reset as soon as liquid flows into the system without requiring any action on the part of the operator. The piston action of the float within the lower part of the housing 38 makes it possible to keep the size of the float to a minimum and yet obtain sufficient force to pull the armature away from the magnet as soon as liquid enters the system again. Thus, the float needs only to be large enough to support the weight of the float assembly and the armature in the liquid product. The design is simple and lends itself to fabrication in clear plastic so that the operation of the mechanism is isible.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various changes and modifications can be made in the preferred form of apparatus described herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1 claim:

1. A product empty mechanism for beverage dispensing apparatus having a liquid product system, said mechanism being adapted to actuate the sold-out functions of said apparatus and conlprising a housing defining a float chamber and ha ing inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected in the liquid product system of said apparatus, a float dlSPOJcd within said chamber and having an upper position and a lower position, said-float being in said upper position regardless of the rate of flow of said liquid or of fluid pressure in said system when there is liquid in said liquid product system and being in said lower position regardless of the fluid pressure in said system when the liquid in said liquid product system is exhausted a switch mounted exteriorly of said housing and having an operating button, said chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion of lesser diameter, said float comprising an enlarged upper portion disposed within said upper portion of said chamber and an elongated spindle portion having a close, free fit with the interior wall of said lower portion of said chamber, an armature of magnetic material carried by said spindle portion of said float at the lower end thereof, said spindle portion of said float having a downwardly opening bore and laterally opening ports therein, said ports communicating with said bore and being nearer said upper portion of said float than said armature and providing communication between said bore and said upper portion of said chamber when said float is in said upper position, said inlet port communicating with said lower portion of said chamber below said spindle portion of said float when said float is in said lower position, said outlet port communicating with said upper portion of said chamber, means to operate said switch, said means includ.ng an operating fever pivotally supported without said housing and having one arm for operating said switch button and a second arm extending adjacent the portion of said housing d fining said lower portion of said chant her, a permanent magnet secured to said second arm of said lever in operative relation with said armature when said float is in said lower position, and spring means urging'said one arm of 'said lever into engagement with said button, said housing being of non-magnetic material adjacent said magnet. V

2. A product empty mechanism for beverage dispensing apparatus having a liquid product system, said mechanism being adapted to actuate the sold-out functions of said apparatus and comprising a housing defining a float chamber and having vertically spaced lower inlet and upper outlet ports adapted to be connected in the liquid product system of said apparatus, a float disposed for reciprocal motion within said chamber and having an upper and a lower position, said float being in said upper position regardless of the rate of flow of said liquid or of fluid pressure in said systemwhen there is liquid in said liquid product system and being in said lower position regardless of the fluid' pressure in said system when the liquid in said liquid product system is exhausted a portion of said float having a close, free fit with the interior wall of said chamber between said inlet and outlet ports and being disposed in said close free fit when said float is in said lower position, a first magnetic means carried by said float, switch means disposed exteriorly of said housing and means disposed exteriorly of said housing to actuate said switch means, said last named means including second magnetic means adapted to have motion toward and away from said housing and disposed in operable relation with said first magnetic means when said float is in said lower position, and means biasing said second magnetic means in opposition to the direction of movement induced by said first magnetic means.

3. A product empty mechanism for beverage dispensing apparatus having a liquid product system, said mechanism being adapted to actuate the sold-out functions of said apparatus and comprising a housing defining a float chamber and having inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected in the liquid product system of said apparatus, a float disposed for reciprocal motion within said chamber and having an upper position and a lower position, said float being in said upper position regardless of the rate of flow of said liquid or of fluid pressure in said system when there is liquid in said liquid product system and being in said lower position regardless of the fluid pressure in said system when the liquid in said liquid product system is exhausted said chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion of lesser diameter, said float comprising an enlarged upper portion disposed within said upper portion of said chamber and an elongated spindle portion, at least a part of said spindle portion of said float having a close, free fit with the interior wall of said lower portion of said chamber, when said liquid product system is empty and said float is in said lower position, an armature of magnetic material carried by said spindle portion of said float, said inlet port communicating with said lower portion of said chamber below part of said spindle portion of said float when said float is in said lower position and said outlet port communicating with said upper portion of said chamber, a switch disposed exteriorly of said housing, and means disposed exteriorly of said housing to actuate said switch, said last named means including a permanent magnet adapted to have motion toward and away from said housing and disposed in operable relation with said armature when said float is in said lower position, said housing being of non-magnetic material adjacent said magnet.

4. A product empty mechanism for beverage dispsensing apparatus having a liquid product system, said mechanism being adapted to actuate the sold-out functions of said apparatus and comprising a housing defining a float chamber and having inlet and outlet ports adapted to be connected in the liquid product system of said apparatus, a float disposed for reciprocal motion within said chamber and having an upper and a lower position, said float being in said upper position regardless of the rate of flow of said liquid or of fluid pressure in said system when there is liquid in saidliquid product systemand being-in said lower position regardless of the fluid pressure in said system when the liquid in said liquid product system is exhaustedsaid chamber having an upper portion and a lower portion, said float comprising an'upper portion disposed Within said upper portion of said chamber and a lower portion, a part of said lower portion being adapted to have a close, free fit with the interior wall of said lower portion of said chamber, said inlet port communicating with said lower portion of said chamber below the level of said part of said lower portion of said float when said float is in said lower position and said outlet port communicating with said chamber above said part of said lower portion of said float when said float is in said lower position, an armature of 1'' magnetic material carried byisaid float, switch means disposed exteriorly of said housing, and means disposed exteriorly of said housing to' actuatesaid-switch means, said last named means" including a-permanent magnet adapted to have motion toward and away from said housing and disposed in operable relation'with said armature when said float is in said lower position, said housingbeing of non-magnetic material adjacent said magnet.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,307,304 Rudd Jan. 5,1943 2,310,504 Aubert Feb. 9, 1943 2,791,657 Bloxsom et al. May 7,1957 

